Cooperative Program and Stewardship Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma A Census of Southern Baptist Pastors and Selected Laity

2 Methodology Census of all Southern Baptist congregations conducted November 2007 – February 2008 Two invitations were mailed to senior pastors of all SBC congregations Nov. 9, 2007 and Dec. 27, 2007 requesting their participation in the online survey Pastors were asked to personally complete the survey 9,020 Southern Baptists completed the survey

3 Methodology The sample of pastors is a census; there is no sampling error in selecting the invitation list Pastors were also asked to select 5 members of their church to complete the survey: Chairman of deacons or a trustee (or key male leader) A woman who is a Sunday School teacher or Bible study leader An additional man and two women who are not a deacon, Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader or missions leader A maximum of 6 surveys were permitted from each church (including the pastor’s survey)

4 Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma State Sample Data will be reported separately based on the roles respondents indicated on the survey: Pastors/Other Ministers – sample size 147 Laity – sample size 247 Responses have not been weighted

Cooperative Program

6 Cooperative Program Summary A large majority of Oklahoma churches are positive about the Cooperative Program When forced to indicate if they are generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the CP, 86% of pastors and other ministers and 96% of laity indicated they are generally satisfied The most important objective of the CP is that it sends and supports missionaries in North America and around the world The most important benefit of the CP is that it allows individual churches to support more missions endeavors efficiently than they could individually Overall View of the Cooperative Program

7 Cooperative Program Summary continued Efficiency in the use of CP funds by state convention entities and among SBC entities are the areas with which the largest number of Oklahoma churches have concerns 45% of pastors strongly agree efficient use of contributions are important for state convention entities and yet do not strongly agree they are efficient today 41% of pastors strongly agree efficient use of contributions are important for SBC entities and yet do not strongly agree they are efficient today Concerns with the Cooperative Program

8 Cooperative Program Summary continued Seventy-two percent of Oklahoma pastors indicate their church promoted the Cooperative Program within their church this last year Resources used by a majority of churches to promote the CP include bulletin inserts, posters, videos, and the state paper Forty-five percent of Oklahoma churches use the state convention as their primary source of resources to promote the CP Promotion of the Cooperative Program

9 Currently Describes the Cooperative Program % Strongly Agree Q2

10 Currently Describes the Cooperative Program % Strongly Agree Q2

11 Currently Describes the Cooperative Program % Strongly Agree Q2

12 Importance of Potential CP Benefits % Extremely Important Q3

13 Importance of Potential CP Benefits Q3 % Extremely Important

14 Importance of Potential CP Benefits Q3 % Extremely Important

15 Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives Q4 % Extremely Important

16 Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives Q4 % Extremely Important

17 The Cooperative Program supports SBC entities, ministries, and missions that my church values Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 1% Don’t Know 0% Don’t Know

18 The Cooperative Program supports state convention entities, ministries, and missions that my church values Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 1% Don’t Know

19 The Cooperative Program protects churches from direct funding appeals by entities Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 13% Don’t Know 12% Don’t Know

20 The Cooperative Program allows my church to support more missions endeavours efficiently than we could on our own Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 1% Don’t Know

21 The SBC entities that the Cooperative Program supports use the contributions efficiently Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 3% Don’t Know 2% Don’t Know

22 The state convention entities that the Cooperative Program supports use the contributions efficiently Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 3% Don’t Know 1% Don’t Know

23 The Cooperative Program allocates contributions among state, national, and global ministries, missions, and entities appropriately Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 4% Don’t Know 1% Don’t Know

24 The division of Cooperative Program contributions between state conventions and the SBC is appropriate Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 8% Don’t Know 5% Don’t Know

25 The Cooperative Program is the most effective way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide Service Level Currently Describes Importance Pastor/Other Minister Level of Agreement 1% Don’t Know

26 Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: The Cooperative Program The median known percentage is 9.0% Over the last 5 years 8% indicate the percentage decreased 58% indicate the percentage stayed the same 30% indicate the percentage increased 7% Don’t Know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

27 Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: your local Association The median known percentage is 3.00% Over the last 5 years 11% indicate the percentage decreased 57% indicate the percentage stayed the same 27% indicate the percentage increased 10% Don’t Know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

28 Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: one or more SBC entities The median known percentage is 0% Over the last 5 years 2% indicate the percentage decreased 66% indicate the percentage stayed the same 18% indicate the percentage increased 27% Don’t Know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

29 Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: local, domestic, & foreign ministries, mission trips & missions projects conducted by your church The median known percentage is 1.00% Over the last 5 years 2% indicate the percentage decreased 41% indicate the percentage stayed the same 45% indicate the percentage increased 20% Don’t Know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

30 18% Don’t Know Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: ministries, missions, or para-church organizations over which your church has no direct control The median known percentage is 0% Over the last 5 years 4% indicate the percentage decreased 64% indicate the percentage stayed the same 15% indicate the percentage increased Pastor/Other Minister Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

31 Church’s construction budget expenditures Over the last 5 years 9% indicate the budget decreased 41% indicate the budget stayed the same 45% indicate the budget increased 5% don’t know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q6

32 Church’s overall budget expenditures Over the last 5 years 13% indicate the budget decreased 15% indicate the budget stayed the same 71% indicate the budget increased 1% don’t know Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q6

33 Beliefs about the current division of CP gifts in your state The percentage retained by the state should increase The percentage forwarded to the national Convention should increase The division of Cooperative Program gifts is about right Q8

34 Beliefs about the current division of CP gifts in your state The percentage retained by the state should increase The percentage forwarded to the national Convention should increase The division of Cooperative Program gifts is about right Q8 Pastor/Other Minister Responses:

35 Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget Median Preferred Allocation: Q9 Current Allocation Pastors/Other Ministers Laity IMB50.00% NAMB22.79%23.00% SBC Seminaries 22.16%22.00% ERLC 1.65%2.00%1.65% SBC Operating Budget 3.40%3.37%3.40%

36 Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget Mean Preferred Allocation: Q9 Current Allocation Pastors/Other Ministers Laity IMB50.00%49.56%49.10% NAMB22.79%24.91%24.26% SBC Seminaries 22.16%19.91%20.79% ERLC 1.65%2.13% 2.25% SBC Operating Budget 3.40% 3.49% 3.61%

37 Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget Percent of Pastors/Other Ministers Compared to Current Allocation: Q9 Indicates majority of pastors Preference < Current Preference = Current Preference > Current IMB19% 63%18% NAMB20%12%67% SBC Seminaries 70% 12%17% ERLC34%14%52% SBC Operating Budget 50%16%34%

38 Wording of Cooperative Program Descriptions We have an overwhelmingly positive view of the CP. We believe the CP is not only satisfactory, but is essential to the continued existence of the SBC, and the fulfillment of its mission of worldwide evangelism We have a mostly positive view of the CP. We believe the CP perhaps could be improved in some ways, but is doing a very good job at present of supporting worldwide missions We have a mixed view of the CP. The CP is merely our denomination’s present method of supporting worldwide missions and it could be improved in many ways Q10

39 Wording of Cooperative Program Descriptions We have a mostly negative view of the CP. We do like some of its aspects, but are often disappointed by its inefficiencies. We view the CP as a regrettably necessary “tax” to support the SBC’s infrastructure We have an overwhelmingly negative view of the CP. We believe the CP is no longer satisfactory, and no longer participating in it. Our church is unaware of the CP. It is not on our radar screen at all. Q10

40 Description of the Cooperative Program that best reflects view of churches Q10

41 General Opinion of the Cooperative Program Q18

42 Activities Used by Churches to Emphasize Missions Giving Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q11

43 Activities Used by Churches to Emphasize Missions Giving Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q11

44 Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q12

45 Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q12

46 Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q12

47 Primary Source for Resources to Promote the Cooperative Program Pastor/Other Minister Responses: (Among those who explain/promote the CP) Q13

Stewardship

49 Stewardship Summary Sermons are the most common activity churches use to encourage financial stewardship Fifty-two percent offered a planned giving or estate planning emphasis Testimonies of people who gave faithfully/ sacrificially were shared by 38% of churches Small group studies on financial stewardship were not used by 49% of Oklahoma churches New Day for Financial Freedom resources were only used by 1% of Oklahoma churches last year

50 Stewardship Summary continued Churches look within for guidance on promoting and teaching stewardship The minority who looks outside their church, turn to their state office, their association, or a preferred author The majority of pastors do not see a huge opportunity for meeting needs for financial management skills

51 Stewardship Activities Conducted by Churches in last 12 months Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q14

52 Stewardship Activities Conducted by Churches in last 12 months Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q14

53 Stewardship Resources Used by Churches in the last year Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q15

54 Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Stewardship Resources Used by Churches in the last year Q15

55 Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q16

56 Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q16

57 Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Pastor/Other Minister Responses: Q16

58 Members of our congregation as a whole: Have a significant amount of personal debt 15% Don’t Know Q17a Pastor/Other Minister Description of Congregation

59 Members of our congregation as a whole: Look to the church for guidance in improving their financial management skills 7% Don’t Know Q17b Pastor/Other Minister Description of Congregation

60 Members of our congregation as a whole: Are open to teaching or preaching on the subject of stewardship Pastor/Other Minister Description of Congregation 4% Don’t Know Q17c